The first step of the process is to choose an Agent. The right real estate Agent can go a long way when trying to achieve your real estate goals and while mitigating a lot of the frustration. This is particularly true in our present marketplace where there are so many people wanting to buy but there is low inventory. The earlier you contact a real estate Agent, the easier it will be to create a plan that troubleshoots any potential issues and can open options you may not have been aware of. There is nothing more frustrating than falling in love with a property, writing an offer, and then only to find out that you weren’t competitive enough, you weren’t pre-approved for a loan, or didn’t have enough information to make a solid offer.
You can benefit from an Agent’s knowledge of services related to real estate transactions. While real estate agents can’t give tax or legal advice, we can help by jointly meeting with our clients and their lender, tax, or legal advisors. This can save you a considerable amount of time, money, and anguish.
Since most buyers today understand that their offer has a much greater chance of acceptance if they are pre-approved for a loan, or at least pre-qualified, shouldn’t you go to a lender before seeing an Agent or Broker? Generally, the answer is no. You should meet with your real estate Agent first because lenders make different types of loans. Some lenders base approval of the loan by giving more weight to the person borrowing, while others weight the property that will secure the loan and may deal with a borrower (you) who has had a few credit glitches in the past. Your real estate Agent will know which lender is most likely to approve a loan that best fits your desires and financial background.